Win my contest & Ravenous Romance publishes it!

esat · Aug 31, 2010

Hi everyone! I have some very exciting news.

My website holds a monthly erotica short story contest. I give you three adult toy products as your 'Story Inspirations', you choose one and use it in your story.

Now here's the new and even more exciting part...the September contest starts tomorrow, and stories will be accepted through 9/25. During the month, as entries are submitted to my site (http://www.EroticStoriesAndToys.com), Ravenous Romance, the romance & erotica epublisher (http://www.RavenousRomance.com) will be soliciting similar toy-based stories from their writers. The best stories will be published in a 'toy anthology', aiming for a release date of mid-October--that's right, of THIS year!

The winner from my site will be included in the Ravenous Romance anthology!

All the details can be found here: http://www.eroticstoriesandtoys.com/esat_016.htm

A press release will be distributed by Ravenous Romance within the next 48 hours; they're planning on sending it all over the place. I'll be doing the same.

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to be packaged with A-list writers, and see yourself in (e)print within a couple of months!

I know a lot of the AW members are fantastic writers, so I hope you'll consider submitting for this very special contest!

Please let me know if you have any questions; I'll be happy to answer them.

(Actually, let's start with the first question...there is no monetary compensation for this contest, although you do win the three Story Inspiration products, which have a retail value of about $100.)

Brindle Chase · Sep 2, 2010

I caught wind of this via my facebook friends. It sounds very intriguing. A great way for an unpublished author to get their foot in the door, so to speak. Or a published author looking to connect with RR... =oP

esat · Sep 3, 2010

Brindle Chase said:
I caught wind of this via my facebook friends. It sounds very intriguing. A great way for an unpublished author to get their foot in the door, so to speak. Or a published author looking to connect with RR... =oP

Hi Brindle Chase,

I'm thrilled the word is getting out! And you're right, this could be such a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to get in...

I hope you'll submit too! It's open to both published (non-RR authors) and unpublished writers.

Best of luck to everyone who enters.

I'm so excited to be able to present this opportunity!

nkkingston · Sep 3, 2010

So the anthology's being publishd through RR, right? Do you know who the editor is?

I'm trying to get my head around a few things, like the absence of payment. I mean, I get it in terms of the toys, but wouldn't the winning story also receive the same treatment as any other stories in the anthology? The other RR anthology I'm in was $10 advance and royalties once it earnt out.

Oh, on that note: If you're in an RR anthology, but not otherwise published through them, can you enter via ES&T? My only contact with RR is through my editor. ::bats eyelashes::

veinglory · Sep 3, 2010

Indeed. Are the winning published stories paid for by RR in the usual way?

esat · Sep 3, 2010

The only payment for ANYONE, RR author or my site's winner, is the toy. No cash for anyone.

I know this may strike a sour note, but it might to help to think of it this way--this is a real quickie. An in-and-out-in-less-than-a-month contest, with publication aimed for in less than six weeks. And it's a short story--less than 5,000 words. If it interests more readers in your lengthier, for-sale books, that'll be great. And if you win, you get a fun prize box.

If lack of payment in dollars is a problem, I totally understand. This is something totally new that RR and I are trying.

nkk, if you have not received an email announcement/solicitation from Lori Perkins (who will be editing the collection), feel free to submit through my site. If you got her email, you'll need to go through her site. This is in an attempt to give writers OTHER than RR writers a chance to win through my site.

Brindle Chase · Sep 3, 2010

Looks at it this way... RR and Esat are trying a marketing approach that hasn't really been done before in this medium... so they are taking the financial risk. What they offer in turn, is the chance to get your name out there on something that could be huge ... and could flop. Like with any contest I've seen, the "pay" is typically more in the exposure it garnishes for the author.

I'm still contemplating if I can squeeze this into my schedule in time for 9/25... but I would encourage everyone to consider it!

veinglory · Sep 3, 2010

The way I see it RR normally pays royalties, this time they are paying only a toy that they may well have recieved for free. IMHO that is not exciting and special at all. That is RR finding a way to get free content for an anthology.

If the goal was to make a promotional announcement rather than really discuss the nature of this collaboration, I would suggest using the announcements forum not the erotica genre forum.

esat · Sep 3, 2010

In response,

veinglory said:
The way I see it RR normally pays royalties, this time they are paying only a toy that they may well have recieved for free. IMHO that is not exciting and special at all. That is RR finding a way to get free content for an anthology.

I can understand this thought, since you are a successful, published author. Writers in your situation may not be the least bit interested in this contest. And that's fine. But my hope is that writers looking to become published for the first time will find it to be a possible open door, and a way to break in. For some people, that may be more valuable than the perhaps small amount they'd make off an anthology. IMHO.

The goal here is not to cheat or take advantage of anyone; it's simply to have a good time, write a quick, short story (not something that costs you blood, sweat and tears), and perhaps be able to say, 'I've been published with so-and-so in an anthology. Buy my book!'

If the goal was to make a promotional announcement rather than really discuss the nature of this collaboration, I would suggest using the announcements forum not the erotica genre forum.

Just to be clear--while trying not to sound argumentative, which is truly not how this is meant--it was a moderator who suggested I post both here and in Announcements; I asked first because I didn't want to do the wrong thing.

swolf · Sep 5, 2010

As an unknown writer, I think this is a fantastic idea, and a wonderful opportunity.

Maxinquaye · Sep 5, 2010

To be perfectly honest?

This is somewhat like websites wanting freebies to build their own brand name without actually giving the content providers, which they depend on, anything.

I always advice against newbies giving away their work for free because it does two things: a) it shows others that you're willing to work for nothing, and devalues your own brand; b) if it's a success the brand-name will get 90% of the recognition, and the remaining 10% is split on the writers. Even if it's the writers that generat 100% of the credit for the brand-name. And when the writers try to capitalize on the buzz generated, the respondents will demand freebies too.

Dee Carney · Sep 5, 2010

Not to be a pot stirrer, but Cleis anthology calls are usually for shorts around 5K...and they pay $50/story and 1 - 2 copies of the print antho.

IMO, this is a call great for someone who wants to write it for kicks and giggles or get a contract with RR.

Satori1977 · Sep 5, 2010

Could be an interesting story idea, and I am sure some people will be happy to submit their work. But personally, I don't need nor want toys. I have bills to pay. If that means mostly doing freelance non-fiction work, and spending what extra time I have on my novel, then so be it. I don't have time to write freebies, no matter how much I want to be published. That is my take on it.

Maxinquaye · Sep 5, 2010

Satori1977 said:
Could be an interesting story idea, and I am sure some people will be happy to submit their work. But personally, I don't need nor want toys. I have bills to pay. If that means mostly doing freelance non-fiction work, and spending what extra time I have on my novel, then so be it. I don't have time to write freebies, no matter how much I want to be published. That is my take on it.

Yeah.

If the one- or two weeks it takes to write a decent story is worth nothing, then you could say that the editor the publisher hires to gather the anthology and edit it is "taking the financial risk". If the 10-20 writers' 40 or 80 hours is worth at least the minimum wage, then maybe this is not so true.

kdbeaar · Sep 5, 2010

But...it's a contest, right?

You want the prize, or you don't.

You enter, or you don't.

You win, or you don't.

It seems pretty simple to me.

Maxinquaye · Sep 5, 2010

At the moment I think we're discussing the wider implications of writing for a contest like this, since this is the Writing Erotica subforum and not Announcements.

We got to chew on something that is writing related, I guess. And I think it's a valid discussion to have, and we can use this announcement to do that.

DancingMaenid · Sep 5, 2010

I have no problem writing for non-paying markets. If someone is concerned about making money through writing, then yeah, a non-paying contest/market may not be the best choice. Doesn't make them bad for everyone, though.

The only hold up for me is that I haven't read anything from Ravenous Romance and I'm not sure how well my style matches up with what they generally publish.

Synonym · Sep 5, 2010

I may give it a shot, just to get my muse jump-started again. It won't hurt me since I'm getting nothing done anyway.

It might even help if I can get started writing again.

veinglory · Sep 5, 2010

I think non-paying markets and fun contests were fine.

But I thought RR was a paying market.

swolf · Sep 5, 2010

Maxinquaye said:
I always advice against newbies giving away their work for free because it does two things: a) it shows others that you're willing to work for nothing, and devalues your own brand; b) if it's a success the brand-name will get 90% of the recognition, and the remaining 10% is split on the writers. Even if it's the writers that generat 100% of the credit for the brand-name. And when the writers try to capitalize on the buzz generated, the respondents will demand freebies too.

I disagree.

I'm willing to give away my stories so that folks are more likely to read them, and then become fans of my work. I want to build a fan base and then they'll be willing to pay for my books.

It's a tried and true business strategy, which is why new restaurants give out coupons.

Of course, I understand why someone who charges for their stories, doesn't want others giving them away. So it would make sense that you would advise that to others.

swolf · Sep 5, 2010

Maxinquaye said:
Yeah.

If the one- or two weeks it takes to write a decent story is worth nothing, then you could say that the editor the publisher hires to gather the anthology and edit it is "taking the financial risk". If the 10-20 writers' 40 or 80 hours is worth at least the minimum wage, then maybe this is not so true.

The story I submitted to EroticStoriesAndToys for July/August took two days to write.

Synonym · Sep 5, 2010

I would argue that it is payment, but, you are getting product instead of cash.

DancingMaenid · Sep 5, 2010

Synonym said:
I would argue that it is payment, but, you are getting product instead of cash.

Yeah, I agree.

Also, I don't like the implication that the only reason someone would submit a story is for money or to build up their brand. If someone wants to make a living as a writer or turn their writing into a business, then yeah, those are important concerns. But I just write for the love of it, so what does that matter to me? I don't think that makes me a lesser writer than anyone else.

Satori1977 · Sep 5, 2010

DancingMaenid said:
Yeah, I agree.

Also, I don't like the implication that the only reason someone would submit a story is for money or to build up their brand. If someone wants to make a living as a writer or turn their writing into a business, then yeah, those are important concerns. But I just write for the love of it, so what does that matter to me? I don't think that makes me a lesser writer than anyone else.

If I implied this, I am sorry. I was simply stating MY reasons for not submitting work to them. I write because I love it too. And if I had more money in the bank, I would be happy with just that. But since I am unemployed and have to bring in some money for bills, the majority of my time spent writing is for a cash payment.

I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad. Or to say you shouldn't write for them. It could be a great opportunity. Just thought I would add my thoughts, since the OP said it was something new they were trying, and I thought they might want opinions from people not submitting.

I would never tell anyone else to not write for someone unless I felt they were shady...but this is a reputable e-pub as far as I know.

Synonym · Sep 5, 2010

Don't worry about it Satori. I think everyone understands where most people are coming from on this subject. It's fairly simple. If you don't like the way it's being done, or have to go for the money for whatever reason, that's cool.

Win my contest & Ravenous Romance publishes it!

Procrastinating again

Dancing on the edge

Procrastinating again

Bemused Girl

volitare nequeo

Procrastinating again

Dancing on the edge

volitare nequeo

Procrastinating again

That cheeky buggerer

Bringing sexy back

Listening to the Voices In My Head

That cheeky buggerer

Trying to finish at least 1 ms!

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New kid...seven years ago!

volitare nequeo

New kid...seven years ago!

Listening to the Voices In My Head